My name is Diamond Bell, and mental illness is part of my family history — but it does not define our future. On my maternal side, it goes back generations. My great-grandmother struggled with her mental health in a time when you were expected to suffer in silence. That struggle was passed to my maternal grandmother, who still battles with her mental health today. Watching her has shown me how invisible this fight can be. It skipped my mother. She became the strong one, the one who held everyone together, but I know growing up in that environment affected her too. It did not skip me or my brother. I live with social anxiety, anxiety, and depression. For a long time I didn't have the words for it. I just knew that walking into a classroom full of people, speaking up, or even being around a crowd could feel overwhelming. There are days my anxiety is so loud I can't focus, and days my depression makes it hard to feel like myself. But despite that, every day I get up and handle my business. I go to school, I take care of my responsibilities, I show up for my family. When you live with mental illness, that is an accomplishment. Every day I get up is another day I have survived while having a mental illness, and I am proud of that. Having mental illness run through my family has been painful, but it has also given me perspective. I learned that mental illness is not a weakness or a character flaw. It is a real health challenge, like any other. I also learned that silence makes it worse. For generations, my family didn't talk about it. My brother and I are part of the generation that is learning to talk about it, to get help, and to keep going anyway. I am applying for the Elizabeth Schalk Memorial Scholarship because I want to honor not only my own journey, but the journey of women like Elizabeth and like my grandmother and great-grandmother. I want to be part of breaking the stigma. I am pursuing my education because I want to build a stable, successful life and show that you can struggle with anxiety and depression and still achieve your goals. I am more than my diagnosis. I am resilient, determined, and I am still here. This scholarship would help me continue my education and continue proving that survival is just the beginning — I intend to thrive. I am currently attending Augusta Technical College and I am pursuing Air Conditioning Technology.

Hello, my name is Diamond Bell and this is my journey, At 16, I dropped out of school, and for a long time I felt like my life wasn’t going anywhere. Eventually, I realized that I wanted something different for myself, so I made the decision to go back to school. I chose the HVAC trade, and even though I didn’t originally know exactly what to expect, I’m becoming more confident that I made the right choice. Returning to a classroom after being away from school for so long has been one of my biggest challenges. I’ve had to get used to learning again, retrain my brain to retain information, and adjust to being a student. It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve continued showing up and putting in the work because I know that building a better future requires me to keep moving forward. The more I learn about HVAC, the more interested I become. Right now, I’m learning about refrigeration, and I’m enjoying discovering how the systems work and how different components come together to solve real problems. My goal is to graduate, build a career in the skilled trades, and eventually move away from Augusta so I can experience life somewhere new and create a future for myself. I believe skilled work matters because people depend on skilled tradespeople every day. When the air conditioning or heat stops working, a vehicle breaks down, or someone has a plumbing or electrical problem, skilled workers are the people they call. These careers provide services that people cannot simply go without, and I’m proud to be working toward becoming one of those people. This scholarship would help me continue my education by allowing me to purchase quality HVAC tools. Good tools are an important investment in this trade, and if I take care of them, I hope to use them throughout my career. Having the right tools would make it easier for me to learn, practice, and eventually succeed in the field. Going back to school has given me an opportunity to change the direction of my life. I’m proud that I chose to take that opportunity, and I’m excited to see where this path takes me.

My career objective is to complete training in the HVAC trade and build a long-term career in the skilled trades. After exploring different paths such as electrical and plumbing, I discovered that HVAC best fits my interests, strengths, and goals. I enjoy hands-on work, problem-solving, and learning how systems operate to keep homes and businesses comfortable and safe. I am motivated to earn my diploma, gain field experience, and continue developing my skills so I can become a dependable HVAC technician. Over time, I hope to grow in the industry, take on more responsibility, and build a stable career that allows me to support myself and contribute to my community. In addition to my career goals, I am currently facing financial need that affects my ability to succeed in my program. One of my biggest challenges is not having access to a laptop for school. A laptop is required for completing assignments, attending online coursework, submitting homework, and conducting research. Without it, it is difficult to stay organized and keep up with the pace of my training. Relying on limited access to computers makes it harder to fully focus on my studies and perform at my best. Receiving support for a laptop would make a significant difference in my education and career path. It would allow me to stay on track with my coursework, improve my efficiency, and better prepare for the digital tools used in the HVAC industry. With this support, I would be able to focus fully on completing my training and working toward a successful future in HVAC. I believe having access to a laptop will remove a major barrier in my education, help me stay consistent with my assignments, and allow me to build stronger skills that are essential for success in the HVAC field, including communication, research, and technical understanding, while preparing me for the professional expectations of working in the skilled trades after graduation.

Pursuing a career in the HVAC trade has become one of the most meaningful decisions I have made for my future. Before deciding on HVAC, I explored other skilled trades such as electrical work and plumbing. I wanted to find a career that would not only provide stability and opportunity, but also match my interests, strengths, and long-term goals. After learning more about different trades, I realized that HVAC was the path that fit me best. What drew me to HVAC was how much variety and skill the trade requires. HVAC technicians work with heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical systems, and even some plumbing components. I liked the idea of being involved in a career that combines multiple skills into one profession. It seemed more challenging and rewarding to me because it requires problem-solving, technical knowledge, and hands-on work every day. I enjoy learning how things work and finding ways to fix problems, which is one of the main reasons HVAC stood out to me over other trades. Another reason I chose HVAC is because it provides an opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. Heating and cooling systems are something people depend on daily, especially during extreme weather conditions. Families, schools, businesses, and hospitals all rely on properly functioning HVAC systems for comfort and safety. Knowing that I can learn a trade that helps people and keeps important systems running motivates me to work hard and continue improving my skills. Choosing to enter a trade is also part of my plan to build a successful future for myself. I understand that success comes from dedication, discipline, and a willingness to keep learning. By pursuing HVAC training, I am taking a positive step toward becoming financially independent and creating long-term career opportunities. I want to gain valuable skills that will allow me to provide for myself, continue growing professionally, and possibly even own my own business one day. This scholarship would help me continue pursuing those goals and focus more on my education and training. It would also encourage me to keep pushing forward in a career path that I am passionate about. I am determined to succeed and make the most of every opportunity I am given. Overall, choosing HVAC is more than simply choosing a career. It is a commitment to improving my life, building a stable future, and working toward success through hard work and determination. I am excited to continue learning and growing in the HVAC field and to turn my goals into reality.